Wearable Health Monitoring System

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to remotely monitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a health monitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensing characteristics of the individual. These characteristics may include voice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The device allows individuals to constantly monitor their health without having to physically visit a doctor or other health care professional. Wireless communication, for instance with an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set-top box, allows measurements to be made and evaluated by a computerized healthcare service provider. For a more accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to a service. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose the individual based upon the characteristics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/580,950, filed Oct. 16, 2009, now U.S. PatentPublication No. 2011/0092779. The contents of each of the foregoing ishereby incorporated by reference into this application as if set forthherein in full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to monitoring devices. More specifically,the present invention relates to a wearable health monitoring device forremotely diagnosing patients.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Visiting a doctor is often important to ensure the health of anindividual, not only when the individual is sick, but also for regularcheck-ups. However, doctor visits can be costly, time consuming, andsometimes unpleasant. Many illnesses require constant visits to thedoctor for monitoring. This monitoring may simply be monitoring anindividual's blood pressure, determining if any changes have occurred,etc. Unfortunately, to receive this monitoring, the individual may haveto drive a long distance, sit in a waiting room, see the doctor, andthen drive the long distance home. This is not ideal, as it may end uptaking most of, if not all of, the day.

Today there are many health statistics that are important to diagnosingthe average individual. Besides statistics like pulse and temperature,muscular flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and basic reflexes are notonly useful in everyday circumstances, but are indications of generalhealth. However, since the enactment of The Health Insurance Portabilityand Accountability Act (HIPAA), certain precautions must be taken tokeep this information between the patient and his or her doctor.

When visiting the doctor, people often complain about past conditions orepisodes. However, a doctor can only test the patient's current statusand ask them questions to recall how they felt during the past episode.Patient accounts can be uninformative and unreliable. Patients largelydo not recall things such as instant pulse, blood pressure, temperature,etc. For instance, a patient may remember feeling cold, which canindicate a high temperature, but there is no way for the doctor todetermine the exact temperature or even if the patient had a fever atall.

Many individuals would much rather stay in the privacy of their ownhome. However, the cost of frequent house calls by a doctor or otherhealth care professional is too much for most individuals. Thus, stayingat home is currently not a real option.

IPTV is a system through which digital television service is deliveredusing the architecture and networking methods of Internet protocols overa packet-switched network infrastructure, such as the Internet andbroadband Internet access networks, instead of being delivered throughtraditional radio frequency broadcast and cable television formats.

What is needed is a way to monitor an individual's health while theindividual is at home or away from the doctor's office.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides devices and methods for remotelymonitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a healthmonitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensingcharacteristics of the individual. These characteristics may includevoice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. Thedevice allows the individual to constantly monitor his or her healthwithout having to physically visit a doctor or other health careprofessional. Wireless communication, for instance with an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) set-top box allows measurements to be madeand evaluated by a ‘computerized’ healthcare service provider. For amore accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to aservice. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose theindividual based upon the characteristics.

Embodiments of the present invention work with an IPTV-based applicationwhere an individual uses a health monitoring device, in the form of awearable wireless voice remote, to interact with a ‘computerized’healthcare service provider at his or her home. The individual interactswith the service using their voice and body movements, such as touchingthe nose or the toe within a defined time window, according to the videoinstructions showing on the IPTV screen. The invention collects databased upon these interactions as well as inputs of the individual'shealth statistics, such as pulse, temperature, etc. in order for a liveor virtual health care professional to diagnose the individual.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the invention is adevice for monitoring health. The device includes a processor, a memoryin communication with the processor, a remote health monitor logic onthe memory, a health profile database on the memory, a wirelesstransceiver in communication with the processor, a housing enclosing theprocessor, the memory, and the wireless transceiver, a microphone incommunication with the processor, a speaker in communication with theprocessor, and a strap coupled with the housing. A set-top box receivesa voice sample and detects a distance of the wireless transceiver fromthe set-top box to monitor a user's health by producing an audio tonefrom a speaker; sending a data packet from the set-top box at the sametime the audio tone is produced; and calculating the distance using thedifference in time between receipt of the audio tone by the microphoneand the data packet by the wireless transceiver.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inventionis a system for monitoring health. The system includes a wireless healthmonitoring device, a set-top box having a box memory in communicationwith the wireless health monitoring remote, and a box health monitorlogic on the box memory. The set-top box receives a voice sample anddetects a distance of the wireless transceiver from the set-top box tomonitor a user's health by producing an audio tone from a speaker;sending a data packet from the set-top box at the same time the audiotone is produced; and calculating the distance using the difference intime between receipt of the audio tone by the microphone and the datapacket by the wireless transceiver.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theinvention is a method for monitoring health. The method includesconnecting a health monitoring device to a set-top box, receiving ahealth sample from the health monitoring device, receiving a voicesample from the health monitoring device, evaluating the voice samplewith a voice baseline, instructing a user to perform a physical move,receiving a position sample determinative of the physical move, andevaluating the position with a position baseline using time differenceof arrival between an audio tone and a data packet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system for monitoring health, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a user interacting with a health monitoring device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a health monitoring device and its components,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show a user performing tasks with a healthmonitoring device according to instructions, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a network-based system for monitoring health, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a method of remotely monitoring health, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an IPTV set-top box and a television listing instructions,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention provides devices and methods for remotelymonitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a healthmonitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensingcharacteristics of the individual. These characteristics may includevoice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. Thedevice allows the individual to constantly monitor his or her healthwithout having to physically visit a doctor or other health careprofessional. Wireless communication, for instance with an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) set-top box allows measurements to be madeand evaluated by a ‘computerized’ healthcare service provider. For amore accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to aservice. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose theindividual based upon the characteristics.

Embodiments of the present invention work with an IPTV-based applicationwhere an individual uses a health monitoring device, in the form of awearable wireless voice remote, to interact with a ‘computerized’healthcare service provider at his or her home. The individual interactswith the service using his or her voice and body movements, such astouching the nose or the toe within a defined time window, according tothe video instructions showing on the IPTV screen. The inventioncollects data based upon these interactions as well as inputs of theindividual's health statistics, such as pulse, temperature, etc. inorder for a live or virtual health care professional to diagnose theindividual.

In IPTV-based embodiments, an IPTV-based video-oriented service ispresented to the patient either through a pre-recorded video of a humanmedical service provider, such as an orthopedic surgeon, or aninteractive video session with a computer-animation based avatar. Inembodiments using an avatar, the patient follows the instructionsprovided by the ‘virtual doctor’ on the IPTV screen to report and/orshow his or her health status through speech, body movement, walking,stretching, etc.

With a health monitoring device and a pre-paid (or pay-per-visit)healthcare plan offered by the IPTV-based service provider, the patientcompletes a routine check-up at his or her home by interacting with avirtual doctor over IPTV. The patient responds to the video instructionsshown on the IPTV screen through physical responses in real time such asusing his or her voice (vocal level, intelligibility, clarity,recall/repeat the words heard from the videos and/or from memory) andbody movements (attempt a physical reach in responding to an instructionlike ‘please press and hold Talk button and touch your left toe’). Thesystem records the patient's spatial-temporal movement via distance anddirection measurements between the health monitoring device and areference position such as the TV or the transceiver connected to theIPTV set-top box, the speed with which the patient moves,visual/cognitive alertness through answering the questions imposed bythe virtual doctor on the IPTV screen, motor skills, etc. For example,the virtual doctor may ask the patient to report the objects displayedon the TV via voice response in a given time window in order todetermine alertness. Motor skill may be determined by following theinstructions given by the virtual doctor on the IPTV screen, such as“please press Talk button three times while you walk towards me (i.e.,towards the TV)” or “please say ‘I am ok’ after you slowly bend yourbody forward towards the floor and repeat this 5 times”.

For example, the user may complain of an injured shoulder. The doctor orvirtual doctor, through the IPTV set-top box, may tell the user to raisehis or her hand in order to test the user's range of motion. The userholds the health monitoring device in his or her hand and moves the armas instructed. The distance and direction from the health monitoringdevice are detected by the IPTV set-top box. These distance anddirectional readings are processed by the processor according to a boxhealth monitor logic employing algorithms of the IPTV set-top box,herein explained below, to determine the movements that were made by theuser. These readings may be used alone or compared with baselinereadings for the user in order to determine whether the user has alimited range of motion. If so, the limited range of motion becomes afactor in the diagnosis of the user.

In an exemplary embodiment when the TV and the set-top box are placedclose together, or a designated speaker is placed close to the set-topbox, the distance between the health monitoring device and, forinstance, the TV, can be determined by measuring the time difference ofarrival (TDOA) between two signals, both of which are issued by theset-top box. For TV embodiments, a user may select to use an internalspeaker or an external speaker in communication with the TV as thedesignated speaker. For speaker embodiments, the designated speaker canbe a small dedicated speaker coupled to or within the set-top box, orone in a set of external speakers such as in a surround sound system. Ineither embodiment, the user selects the speaker closest to the set-topbox to use as the designated speaker. The first signal is a data packetsent by the IPTV set-top box to the health monitoring device over theirwireless data communication channel The second signal is a specificaudio tone played by the designated speaker as commanded by the IPTVset-top box. The timing of issuance of the set-top box commands whichresult in the two signals should compensate for various delays such asthe command processing delay and designated speaker response delay sothat both signals begin simultaneously. Because the data packet istransmitted over RF, the health monitoring device shall receive thepacket prior to detecting the audio tone. The difference in time betweenreceiving the packet and detecting the tone is used to calculate thedistance between the designated speaker and the health monitoringdevice. Denoting the distance to be calculated as D, the propagationspeed of audio tone as V_(a), and the propagation speed of radio asV_(r), the measured time difference as T, their relationship can beexpressed as:

D/V _(a) −D/V _(r) =T

or further:

D=TV _(a) V _(r)/(V _(r) −V _(a)).

Alternately, a designated speaker may not be near the set-top box.Geometry can be used to correct for the difference in distance betweenthe set-top box and the health monitoring device, and the designatedspeaker and the health monitoring device. When there are multiple audiospeakers in the TV room, a designated speaker may not be selected. TheTDOA method described above is used to find the distances between thehealth monitoring device and each of the speakers.

Combining these distances with the known distances among the speakersthemselves, the direction from the TV to the health monitoring devicecan be computed with simple geometry.

When the set-top box and the TV are not co-located, the time differencebetween the two signals can be used in motion/movement relateddiagnostics. For instance, the time difference between the two signalscan be used to measure a change in relative position. Baseline TDOAmeasurements can be taken while the patient is in a normal condition andfuture diagnostic TDOA measurements can be compared with this baselineprofile.

Various modes of using the present invention are also possible. In anetwork mode, the health monitoring device and/or the IPTV set-top boxis connected to a network in communication with a live or virtual healthcare professional. In a local mode, the health monitoring devicecommunicates with the IPTV set-top box to record various measurementseither for a diagnosis based upon a database on the IPTV set-top box orfor later sending to a network. A non-connected mode allows a user tocarry the health monitoring device with them to record measurementsthroughout the day. These measurements are stored on a memory of thehealth monitoring device and are later sent to the IPTV set-top box ornetwork when these are in communication with the health monitoringdevice.

Embodiments of the invention allow users to input various demographiccategories they belong to as well as other symptoms they are having.These inputs provide the live or virtual healthcare professionalinformation that may be important in diagnosing the user. For instance,the user may enter his or her age, height, and weight as well asflu-like symptoms he or she is having.

For the following description, it can be assumed that mostcorrespondingly labeled structures across the figures (e.g., 132 and232, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the samestructure and function. If there is a difference between correspondinglylabeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results ina non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particularembodiment, then that conflicting description given for that particularembodiment shall govern.

FIG. 1 shows a system for monitoring health, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. This system may be used at thelocal level, or may be connected to a network. In this embodiment, thesystem includes a health monitoring device 100, a set-top box 120, and atelevision 130. Health monitoring device 100 includes a push button 104,a microphone 102, a speaker 106, and a health profile database 118 on amemory. Health monitoring device 100 is a small wireless device capableof detecting the user's voice, movements, health statistics, etc. Healthmonitoring device 100 attaches to a user, such as with an attachedstrap. Health monitoring device 100 may take an ergonomic form such thatit fits comfortably in the user's hand. Health monitoring device 100uses various sensors to take readings on the user as well as the user'senvironment. These reading may include the user's temperature, the roomtemperature, the user's pulse, the oxygen level in the user's blood, theuser's blood sugar level, the user's blood alcohol level, the user'spupil dilation, the user's pupil movement, the user's range of motion,the user's speed of motion, as well as other readings generally taken ata doctor's office. The sensors used may be integrated into healthmonitoring device 100 or may be coupled to health monitoring device 100using adaptors. A wireless transceiver within health monitoring device100 communicates with a transceiver 122 on set-top box 120 to detectmotion of the user, receive commands from set-top box 120, send data toset-top box 120, etc. A distance 132 between the wireless transceiverand transceiver 122 is determined. The wireless transceiver in healthmonitoring device 100 may use Radio Frequency (RF) communicationtechnologies such as cellular, wireless personal area networks, e.g.,BLUETOOTH wireless networks, wireless local area networks, e.g., WI-FIwireless networks, low-rate wireless personal area networks, e.g.,ZIGBEE wireless networks, radio-frequency identification (RFID), UltraWide Band (UWB), etc, or optical communication technologies such asinfrared (IR), laser, Visible Light Communication (VLC), etc. Pushbutton 104 on health monitoring device 100 allows the user to respond tocommands from or initiate commands to set-top box 120 or healthmonitoring device 100. Push button 104 may be used to signify the startof movements, can turn microphone 102 on or off, etc. In otherembodiments, push button 104 is a touch-sensitive biometricmulti-function sensor. Push button 104 may also serve to authenticatethe user, as in some embodiments push button 104 includes a fingerprintscanner or other biometric reader or optical scanner. Otherauthentication methods may be through voice authentication when the userpresses push button 104, iris authentication, etc. Authentication isuseful for health monitoring device 100, as the monitoring of the usermay be compared with previous sessions, the diagnosis of the individualmay be private, etc., and the identity of the individual is important.Additionally, push button 104 may detect the user's pulse, dexterity,etc. Speaker 106 gives the user commands, alerts the user, etc. Forinstance, in a non-connected mode, the user may not be near IPTV set-topbox 120 or television 130 and must otherwise receive commands Microphone102 provides an input for speech or sounds from the user. This may be inresponse to commands from television 130 or set-top box 120, to selectfunctions, to call for help, etc. Health profile database 118 storesinputs, vital signs, etc. from the user. Health profile database 118also contains baseline values for users of the device. These baselinevalues may be set by the user at an initial diagnosis, when setting upthe system, etc. or may be set at the office of a doctor or healthcareprofessional.

Set-top box 120 includes a remote health monitoring logic 124 on amemory and a transceiver 122. Remote health monitoring logic 124includes instructions for set-top box 120 to interact with healthmonitoring device 100. These instructions are carried out by a processoron set-top box 120 which commands other components of set-top box 120.Transceiver 122 may be a USB-based wireless local area network, e.g., aUSB-based WI-FI wireless network, Access Point in communication withIPTV set-top box 120, an integrated transceiver, etc. Transceiver 122allows set-top box 120 to connect with a network. This allows set-topbox 120 to communicate with application servers, allowing the user tocommunicate with real and/or virtual doctors, etc. Transceiver 122 alsocommunicates with the wireless transceiver of health monitoring device100 to receive inputs from health monitoring device 100, send outputs tohealth monitoring device 100, etc. Set-top box 120 communicates withtelevision 130 using a wireless or wired connection. Television 130displays visual output from set-top box 120. This may be instructionsfor the user, the user's results, diagnoses, etc.

In embodiments of the present invention, a protocol for setting baselinevalues enables the user to set baseline values at the doctor's officewithout the health monitoring device being at the office. This may beaccomplished by using a similar health monitoring device to recordbaseline values or by using a plurality of other devices, such as ablood pressure cuff, a thermometer, etc., to set these values. Thesebaseline values may be remotely set, with the office or service providerallowing the user to download the values or sync the values with thehealth monitoring device. In this way, all the patient records are atthe doctor's office, but certain values like these baseline values maybe sent to the device.

In embodiments of the present invention, the health monitoring devicemay take the form of earrings or may be embedded under the skin of theuser. With earrings, the position and orientation of the user's head mayeasily be determined using wireless signals between wirelesstransceivers in the earrings and a transceiver on the IPTV set-top box.When embedded under the skin, the orientation and location of theembedded device is determined By embedding the health monitoring deviceunder the skin, other health statistics may also be taken.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the remote healthmonitoring logic may be stored on the memory of the health monitoringdevice and/or on a network in communication with the IPTV set-top box.By having the remote health monitoring logic in multiple locations, thedifferent modes of the invention can be fully used.

Embodiments of the present invention use one or more adaptors to attachvarious measurement devices. The health monitoring device may include afinger clip for measuring the blood pressure of the user or may includean adaptor to attach such a finger clip. Similarly, the healthmonitoring device may include an adaptor for a stethoscope or otherdevice.

FIG. 2 shows a user 240 interacting with a health monitoring device 200,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, health monitoring device 200 is used to measure user 240'sspeech. Users complaining of sore throats, coughing, and/or otherillnesses or diseases often have discernable differences in theirspeech. Determining these differences may assist in the diagnosis ofthese users. In order to determine whether user 240's voice isdifferent, user 240 first must record a baseline recording. This may bedone during the initial setup of the system and health monitoring device200, during the onset of symptoms, at an initial checkup, etc. and maybe done by user 240 at home, with the assistance of a doctor at thedoctor's office, etc. In order to create a baseline recording, user 240speaks into microphone 202 of health monitoring device 200. Healthmonitoring device 200, an IPTV set-top box connected to a television, ora medical professional may instruct user 240 to say a word, phrase, etc.into microphone 202. When health monitoring device 200 instructs user240, instructions are delivered through speaker 206. Health monitoringdevice 200 records user 240's speech 242 to a memory on healthmonitoring device 200, a memory on the IPTV set-top box, a memory on anetwork, etc. If the recorded speech has not been made or used before,the recorded speech is set as a baseline recording. If a baselinerecording has already been created, the recorded speech is compared withthe baseline recording. Differences in patterns, volume, tone,inflection, etc. are determined to assist with the diagnosis of thepatient. The comparison may be done by a processor on health monitoringdevice 200, by a processor on the IPTV set-top box, by a processor onthe network, etc.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a health monitoring device 300 and its components,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Healthmonitoring device 300 may be used alone in a non-connected mode, may beused in conjunction with an IPTV set-top box in a local mode, or may beused in a network mode with a live or virtual healthcare professional.In this embodiment, health monitoring device 300 includes a microphone302, a speaker 306, a push button 304, a strap 308, a wirelesstransceiver 315, a central processing unit 312, and a memory 314. Strap308 wraps around the neck of the user. Strap 308 is a stretchablematerial, such as a coiled plastic ring resembling a common telephonecord. Strap 308 may be stretched in order for the user to move withhealth monitoring device 300 and may retract such that it is near theuser's mouth when the user is speaking into microphone 302. Speaker 306allows the user to receive instructions, listen to diagnoses, listen tomusic or a game, etc. Push button 304 provides an input and/or aswitching mechanism as well as an input for authentication. Push button304 may be used in order to switch microphone 302 on and off.Additionally, push button 304 may contain sensors in order to monitorthe user's pulse, the user's temperature, the room temperature, etc.Microphone 302 provides an input for health monitoring device.Microphone 302 detects voice volume, tone, inflection, etc. and sendsthis data to CPU 312. These may be compared with baseline valuespreviously stored in health monitoring device 300 or by an IPTV set-topbox or server on a network. When comparing with baseline values onhealth monitoring device 300, CPU 312 runs a remote health monitor logic316 on memory 314 that compares the values recorded by microphone 302with values stored on a health profile database 318 on memory 314. CPU312 commands components of health monitoring device 300 according toremote health monitor logic 316 as well as other logic on memory 314.Memory 314 stores logic, data, etc. Together, CPU 312 and memory 314 mayserve to buffer speech and or movement data to ensure the data isaccurate. Memory 314 also stores device identification in order toauthenticate health monitoring device 300 with an IPTV set-top boxand/or network. Health profile database 318 stores data concerning theuser or users. This data may include a personal profile includingheight, weight, body fat, medical history, etc. as well as data receivedfrom user inputs. These user inputs may be in response to instructionsfrom a doctor, a virtual doctor, etc. Wireless transceiver 315 allowshealth monitoring device 300 to wirelessly communicate with a network,other wireless devices such as an IPTV set-top box, etc. Wirelesstransceiver 315 may use Radio Frequency (RF) communication technologiessuch as cellular, wireless personal area networks, e.g., BLUETOOTHwireless networks, wireless local area networks, e.g., WI-FI wirelessnetworks, low-rate wireless personal area networks, e.g., ZIGBEEwireless networks, radio-frequency identification (RFID), Ultra WideBand (UWB), etc., or optical communication technologies such as infrared(IR), laser, Visible Light Communication (VLC), etc.

Embodiments of the present invention also include an accelerometer 313within health monitoring device 300. Accelerometer 313 determines theorientation of health monitoring device 300. Accelerometer 313 is alsoused to detect motions of health monitoring device 300, such as forperforming requested motions, playing games, etc. In embodiments of thepresent invention, accelerometer 313 is sensitive such that it may alsobe used to determine the pulse of the user, as the pulse creates smallmovements. Readings from accelerometer 313 are sent to CPU 312 to assisthealth monitoring device 300 in determining the extent of motions by theuser.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show a user 440 performing tasks with a healthmonitoring device 400 according to instructions, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. These instructions may bedelivered by health monitoring device 400, by an IPTV set-top boxconnected to a television, by a live or virtual medical professional,etc. In each of these embodiments, user 440 is wearing a strap 408around user 440's neck. Strap 408 is a stretchable material such thatuser 440 can hold health monitoring device 400 in his or her hand andperform motions. When health monitoring device 400 is not in user 440'shand, health monitoring device 400 is closer to user 440's mouth andears such that user 440 can receive instructions, make voice commands,record speech, etc.

FIG. 4A shows a user 440 recording speech on a health monitoring device400, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, a strap 408 is around user 440's neck. Healthmonitoring device 400 is in a position to instruct user 440 and recorduser 440's speech. Health monitoring device 400 is hanging, with strap408, in an unstretched position. This position is recorded by the healthmonitor logic and serves as a base position from which the movement inthe next Figures is measured.

FIG. 4B shows a user 440 performing arm motions with a health monitoringdevice 400, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, a strap 408 is around user 440's neck anduser 440 is extending an arm out in response to a command from healthmonitoring device 400 or an IPTV set-top box through a television. Thisembodiment is useful, for instance, when measuring user 440's range ofmotion. The distance moved by health monitoring device 400, the speed ofmovement, angles of movement, etc. are recorded by health monitoringdevice as data. This data may be compared with baseline data from theposition in FIG. 4A to determine if user 440's movement is limited. Whena baseline is taken right after an injury, it can be determined from thedata whether user 440's injury is improving. When a baseline is takenwhen user 440 is healthy, the data can determine limitations in user440's motion. The data is determined by measurements made by componentsof health monitoring device 400 and/or the IPTV set-top box. Thesemeasurements may use changes in distance and direction from the healthmonitoring device to a reference position such as the TV usingaccelerometer measurements, etc. in order to determine user 440'smovement. Measurements are sent through a processor of health monitoringdevice 400 and/or the IPTV set-top box to determine the movements andcompare the movements with the baseline data.

FIG. 4C shows a user 440 wearing a health monitoring device 400 andbending over at the waist, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, user 440 has a strap 408connected to health monitoring device 400 around user 440's neck. User440 has been instructed to touch his or her toes. With strap 408 arounduser 440's neck, user 440 slowly bends at the waist to touch the toes.The location of health monitoring device 400 moves as user 440 bendslower. Measurements of the distance bent down as well as othermeasurements are taken by health monitoring device 400 using infrared,wireless local area networks, e.g., WI-FI wireless networks, TDOA,accelerometers, etc. similar to the measurements in FIG. 48. Thesemeasurements may be compared to a baseline measurement, may form thebaseline measurement, etc.

FIG. 5 shows a network-based system for monitoring health, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, ahealth monitoring device 500 and/or an IPTV set-top box 520 are incommunication with a server 552 connected through Internet 550. Thisallows the user to communicate and send data back and forth with a liveor virtual health care professional. When taking voice measurements,voice measurements recorded by a microphone 502 of health monitoringdevice 500 are sent through a wireless transceiver of health monitoringdevice 500 to a transceiver 522 of IPTV set-top box 520. Transceiver 522forwards these voice measurements over Internet 550 to server 552 wherethey may be processed by a processor based upon a remote health monitorlogic 554 on a memory of server 552. Measurements taken by push button504 may be similarly forwarded to server 552. Server 552 may be an IPTVhealthcare service node with automatic speech recognition (ASR) withspeaker adaptation capability. This allows server 552 to recognizespeech from the user. When sending commands to the user, server 552sends commands over Internet 550 to transceiver 522 of IPTV set-top box520. These commands may be selected from a database on server 552 ornetwork 550 based upon remote health monitor logic 554. A health careprofessional may upload these commands as well as diagnoses to thedatabase of server 552. The commands are either delivered throughtelevision 530 connected to IPTV set-top box 520 or are forwardedthrough transceiver 522 to health monitoring device 500 where they aredelivered through a speaker 502.

In embodiments of the present invention using a live doctor or otherhealthcare professional, the doctor can similarly connect to the serverusing an IPTV set-top box, video conferencing equipment, etc. In thisway, the doctor communicates directly with the user over the Internet.In embodiments utilizing a virtual healthcare professional, a memory, aprocessor, and the remote health monitor logic on the server store anddetermine responses or diagnoses based upon inputs by the user.

In embodiments of the present invention, the system may use games and/orvideos in order to test user responses or to calibrate the healthmonitoring device. These games and/or videos may be stored on theserver, on the IPTV set-top box, etc. Using the health monitoring devicefor games allows the system to determine, for instance, the ability tofollow commands, testing cognitive functioning, etc. Games may alsoserve to test the user's flexibility, reaction time, range of motion,etc. Games or videos may also be used when calibrating the healthmonitoring device or setting a baseline. Games may be used to establishcertain motions within the system for calibration. Games or videos maybe used, for instance, to raise the user's heart rate to a certain levelnecessary for calibration or a baseline.

FIG. 6 shows a method of remotely monitoring health, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, themethod begins by calibrating the health monitoring device S660. Thecalibration may be accomplished by setting baseline levels for speech,motions, positions, etc. With the health monitoring device calibrated,the health monitoring device or an IPTV set-top box through a televisionrequests a voice sample from the user S661. The user speaks into themicrophone of the health monitoring device which records the voicesample. The health monitoring device or IPTV set-top box then requests aphysical sample S662. For example, the user may be requested to bend atthe waist as far as possible. A transceiver on the IPTV set-top boxcommunicates with a wireless transceiver of the health monitoring deviceto create data for the physical sample. With the voice sample and/or thephysical sample, a processor, according to logic on a memory, analyzesthe data and compares the voice sample and/or physical sample withbaseline samples S663. The analyzing includes compiling the inputs todetermine characteristics of the voice sample and/or physical sample.The comparison determines whether the voice sample and/or physicalsample are different than the baseline samples and, if so, how they aredifferent. These differences help to influence the diagnosis. Theprocessor determines whether the results are irregular S664. A result isirregular if the voice sample and/or physical sample is different fromthe baseline sample by a set amount. This may be an amount set by thehealthcare professional based upon the test being performed. If theresults are irregular, the user is alerted S665. If the results are notirregular but the user is not appropriately responding, the user or theprocessor may determine that the user is in critical condition S666.This may be if the user is not showing a pulse, not responding toprompts, etc. The user or processor may also determine that the user isin critical condition S666 after the user has been alerted S665. If theuser or processor does not signal that the user is in criticalcondition, the method ends. If the user is in critical condition, thehealth monitoring device, the IPTV set-top box, or a server on thenetwork alerts authorities S667. The user may be given a certain windowof time to respond before notifying authorities. For instance, thesystem may automatically call an ambulance to the location of the userif the user has been prompted and does not respond within five minutes.

FIG. 7 shows an IPTV set-top box 720 and a television 730 listinginstructions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, IPTV set-top box 720 communicates with ahealth monitoring device to determine whether the user is responding tothe instructions. The instructions are viewed on the screen oftelevision 730. Each instruction is listed with a corresponding checkbox that is marked when the instruction is completed by the user withthe health monitoring device. For instance, in the figure, the firstinstruction is to connect the health monitoring device 770. The user hasalready connected the health monitoring device to the IPTV set-top box.Thus, check box 772 has been marked.

All of the aforementioned combinations should be customizable to suitthe user. In some cases it may even be advantageous to provide inputmodels suited to various disabilities, thus improving the usefulness ofthe device for the largest possible user base. Beyond initial settings,this mechanism should be automatic, autonomous and much more userfriendly than the alternatives.

The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations andmodifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. Thescope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appendedhereto, and by their equivalents.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: obtaining a baseline health performance sampleof a user of the device, wherein the baseline health performance samplecomprises a first measurement corresponding to a first movement of theuser; receiving a request for a new health performance sample; capturingan input representing the new health performance sample according to therequest, wherein the input comprises a second measurement correspondingto a second movement of the device relative to a media processor,wherein the second movement is determined according to arrival time dataassociated with signals that are transmitted according to instructionsfrom the media processor; comparing the second measurement to the firstmeasurement to determine a difference in user health performance; andtransmitting information associated with the difference in user healthperformance to the media processor.
 2. The device in claim 1, wherein afirst signal of the signals originates from the media processor andcomprises a data packet, wherein a second signal of the signalscomprises an audio tone, and wherein the determining the second movementaccording to arrival time data comprises determining a distance betweenthe device and the media processor according to a time difference ofarrival between the first and second signals at the device.
 3. Thedevice in claim 1, further comprising a microphone, wherein the baselinehealth performance sample further comprises a first voice sample of theuser received via the microphone, and wherein the input furthercomprises a second voice sample received via the microphone.
 4. Thedevice in claim 3, wherein the operations further comprise: comparingthe second voice sample to the first voice sample to determine thedifference in user health performance; and transmitting informationassociated with the difference in user health performance, based on thecomparing of the second voice sample to the first voice sample, to themedia processor.
 5. The device in claim 1, further comprising: receivinganother request for a subsequent performance sample of the user from themedia processor; obtaining the subsequent performance sample of theuser; comparing the subsequent performance sample to a downloadedbaseline performance sample to determine an updated difference of userperformance, wherein the media processor downloads the downloadedbaseline from an interactive television network; determining an updatedhealth condition of the user based on the updated difference in the userhealth performance; and transmitting information regarding the updatedhealth condition to the media processor.
 6. The device in claim 1,further comprising an accelerometer, and wherein the operations furthercomprise: obtaining a baseline movement sample of the user by theaccelerometer; capturing an additional movement sample of the user bythe accelerometer; comparing the additional movement sample to thebaseline movement sample to determine a movement based difference inuser health performance; and transmitting the movement based differencein user health performance to the media processor.
 7. A machine-readablestorage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executedby a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: receiving a voice sample of a user; evaluatingthe voice sample against a voice baseline to identify the user;requesting a performance sample of the user from a health monitoringdevice, wherein the performance sample comprises a measurementcorresponding to a movement of a sensor of the health monitoring device,receiving the performance sample of the user by way of the sensor;comparing the performance sample to a baseline performance sample todetermine a difference of user performance; and determining a conditionof the user based upon the difference in user performance.
 8. Themachine-readable storage medium in claim 7, wherein the operationsfurther comprise uploading the condition of the user to an interactivetelevision network.
 9. The machine-readable storage medium in claim 7,wherein the operations further comprise providing two signals to thehealth monitoring device, wherein the movement is determined accordingto a time difference of arrival at the sensor between the two signals,wherein a first signal of the two signals comprises a data packet and asecond signal of the two signals comprises an audio tone, and wherein adistance between the sensor and a processing system issuing the twosignals is determined according to a time difference of arrival betweenthe first and second signals at the sensor.
 10. The machine-readablestorage medium in claim 7, wherein the health monitoring device furthercomprises an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer measures anadditional movement of the user.
 11. The machine-readable storage mediumin claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise presenting therequest for the performance sample to the user by way of an audiospeaker.
 12. The machine-readable storage medium in claim 7, wherein therequest for the performance sample originates from a doctor via aninteractive television network.
 13. The machine-readable storage mediumin claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a baselineperformance sample from an interactive television network.
 14. Themachine-readable storage medium in claim 7, wherein the performancesample comprises a vocal signal.
 15. A method, the method comprising:communicatively connecting, by a processing system comprising aprocessor, to a health monitoring device; providing, by the processingsystem, an instruction to the health monitoring device; instructing, bythe processing system, that a user associated with the health monitoringdevice perform a physical move; receiving, by the processing system, amovement sample by way of a first sensor of the health monitoringdevice, wherein the movement sample is determined relative to a positionof the processor, wherein the movement sample is determined according toa time difference of arrival between two signals originating at theprocessing system; evaluating, by the processing system, the movementsample against a movement baseline for the user to determine a conditionof the user; and transmitting, by the processing system, the conditionto an application server.
 16. The method in claim 15, wherein theprocessor comprises a media processor, and wherein the applicationserver transmits the condition to a health professional in communicationwith the application server.
 17. The method in claim 16, furthercomprising receiving a professional evaluation from the healthprofessional via the application server.
 18. The method in claim 15,further comprising instructing the user to wear the health monitoringdevice when outside a range of wireless communications with theprocessing system.
 19. The method in claim 15, further comprisingobtaining a health sample from the user by way of a second sensor of thehealth monitoring device, and wherein a first signal of the two signalscomprises a data packet and a second signal of the two signals comprisesan audio tone, wherein a distance between the health monitoring deviceand the processor is determined according to a time difference ofarrival between the first and second signals at the health monitoringdevice.
 20. The method in claim 19, wherein the health sample comprisesone of a pulse, a blood oxygen level, a breathing pattern, a blood sugarlevel, or a blood pressure.